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Dealing With Constipation

Constipation can be inelegant to talk about and is certainly uncomfortable to experience.  But the reality is that as we age, constipation becomes more prevalent, especially in adults over the age of 60. Whether your loved one is receiving premier home care at their own home, living in retirement home or a nursing facility, there are steps you can take and remedies to try in order to avoid or solve constipation issues.

If you need support for your loved one who is having constipation issues, there are many options for home health care in the Oakville and Mississauga areas that can provide information on how working with a health care professional can help.

Home Health Mississauga

One of the first steps to dealing with constipation is taking the time to understand what the cause of constipation may be.  Some of the most common causes are:

  • Medication induced constipation. A common side effect of several medications that treat diseases or ailments related to aging is constipation.
  • Reduction in mobility and activity. If you become less active and your mobility is compromised, your body’s ability to keep your bowels moving can become compromised as well.
  • Inadequate or imbalanced caloric intake. Getting proper nutrition can become a challenge and if there is a lack of fiber consumed or not enough calories in general, the body has a harder time working as it should and emptying the bowels becomes a problem.
  • Changes to the body. As we age, the ability to feel and recognize sensations that indicate a bowel movement may diminish.  Missing or ignoring the bodies signals that a bowel movement needs to occur can cause constipation.

Tips To Avoid and Manage Constipation

As mentioned, constipation gets more common as we age.  In order to help your body stay on digestive track, there are things you can do to help avoid or manage constipation.

  • Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of fluids will help keep constipation from getting any worse.  A small glass of prune or pear juice can help keep bowels regular.
  • Manage your diet. High fiber foods and dried fruits such as prunes, apricots or figs are great options to help avoid constipation.
  • Keep moving. Your body needs to move in order to function properly, which includes regular bowel movements.
  • Reduce consumption of coffee, tea and alcohol.
  • Understand your medications. If you begin taking a new medication or have a change in dosage, you may need to alter your food and fluid intake to counter balance the constipating effects of the medication.
  • Talk to your doctor. Using stool softeners or laxatives may be an option to relieve occasional constipation.

As we age, simple things that used to be easier to do can become overwhelming. Asking for help can be the answer.  An elderly person may not be able to manage their diet on their own or get themselves to the bathroom when they need to. Having a home health care provider like iCare Home Health Services can make an elderly person feel empowered again as they get the help they need to live a more comfortable life. Find out more about home care in Oakville and Mississauga, by contacting iCare Home Health and speaking with one of our home health care professionals.  We are committed to providing best in class personalized home health care services for you or your loved one.

iCare Home health is a boutique, visionary home healthcare agency that leverages creative and innovative solutions to empower Canadians, young or old to recover from medical procedure or age with dignity in the comfort of their homes.

Our services include Friend at Home, Personal Support at Home, Nurse at Home and Advanced foot care at home or at one of our growing clinics sites.

Our Care Plans are individualized to client needs and preferences. Our team is passionate about the care they provide and strive to make a difference wherever the opportunity arises.

For more information, visit our website at www.icarehomehealth.ca or email us at info@icarehomehealth.ca.

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President of iCare Home Health Services, a community based, boutique home health care company dedicated to serving the needs of our customers to maintain their quality of life and dignity while they recover from illness or age at the comfort of their own home.

Posted in Gastric Care/ Stomach

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